Submerged well apparatus



Jan. 31, 1967 NEWSQME 3,301,322

SUBMERGED WELL APPARATUS Filed Jan. 13, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 FLEXIBLE CONDUIT R FLYOW LINE ANCHO F' l G I CASING l8 INVENTOR.

NORMAN NEWSONE,

PERFORATION I 45 Jan. 31, 1967 N. NEWSOME 3,301,322

SUBMERGED WELL APPARATUS Filed Jan. 13, 1964 6 ShetS-ShGet 2 Ill 33 BUOY FLEXIBLE CONDUIT 32\ ANCHOR FLOW LINE 31 v t 44 I2 FIG. 2

PAOKER 53 W MB '5 I I INVENTOR.

\ b uomum uewsouz.

N. NEWSOME 3,301,322

SUBMERGED WELL APPARATUS Jan. 31, 1967 Filed Jan. 13, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 United States Patent 3,301,322 SUBMERGED WELL APPARATUS Norman Newsome, New Orleans, La, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Esso Production Research Company, Houston, Tex., a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 13, 1964. Ser. No. 337,203 Claims. (Cl. 166-.5)

The present invention is directed to apparatus for use on a submerged well. More particularly, the invention is concerned with apparatus for moving a wellhead and Christmas tree upwardly from water bottom. In its more specific aspects, the invention is concerned with a submerged well completed on water bottom and providing access thereto.

The present invention may be briefly described as apparatus for use on a submerged well having a pipe string for flow of fluid which comprises means forming a chamber on the upper end of said well. A movable or telescoping member is arranged in the chamber for movement from a first position to a second position and from the second position to the first position. In other Words, the movement is from a first position to a second position and vice versa. The movable or telescoping member carries a piston member having first and second sealing members arranged above and below the piston member for sealing, respectively, between the movable or telescoping member and the upper end of the chamber and between the movable or telescoping member and the wall of the chamber. Means are provided for injecting fluid between the first sealing member and the piston and bet-ween the second sealing member and the piston member for movement of the movable or telescoping member from one position to another.

In the drilling of oil and gas wells and the like in deep water locations from a floating vessel, it is generally necessary to locate the wellhead on the ocean floor or some specified distance above the ocean floor or water bottom. This requires that the Christmas tree and control valves be located below water surface and adjacent the wellhead. Location of these well components below water surface renders difficult the servicing of the well and/or Christmas trees and control valves. The present invention allows servicing of the well, Christmas trees and control valves without requiring the use of divers or for personnel to go below the water surface in any enclosed vessels. The present invention allows the wellhead, Christmas trees and attendant equipment to be raised above water bottom to water surface or to a point below water surface where the equipment may be serviced without subjecting personnel to high water pressures.

The present invention will be further illustrated by reference to the drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view of a well drilled to penetrate a subsurface formation from which hydrocarbons may be produced;

FIG. 2 is a modification of FIG. 1 showing the producing pipe string arranged in a well casing;

FIG. 2-A is a plan view illustrating the application of the invention to plural completions;

FIG. 2-B is a modification of FIG. 2 where the producing pipe string is arranged in a well casing;

FIG. 2-C is another view similar to FIG. 2-B;

FIG. 2-D is a plan view illustrating application of the invention to plural completions;

FIG. 3 illustrates a further modification of the in- 3,3l,322 Patented Jan. 31, 1967 vention where the wellhead is arranged above water bottom but below the water surface;

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view illustrating the construction of the telescoping member and the chamber in which it is arranged; and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 and shows the wellhead and Christmas tree in an extended position.

Referring now to the drawing which represents a best embodiment wherein identical numerals will designate identical parts, and particularly to FIG. 1, numeral 11 designates the surface of a body of water and numeral 12 designates water bottom. Drilled to penetrate a plurality of formations 13, 14 and '15 which are overlaid by overbur-den 16 is a well 17 having a producing pipe string 18 arranged and cemented therein, as is well known. Connected to and forming a part of the pipe string 18 is an enlarged section 19 closed on its upper end with flange members 24] and 21. Arranged for longitudinal movement in the chamber 22, formed by the enlarged section 19, is a telescoping member 23. The telescoping member 23 is provided with a piston member 24. As shown more clearly in FIGS. 4 and 5, a first sealing member 25 in the upper end of the chamber seals about the telescoping member 23, while a second sealing member 26 seals between the telescoping member 23 and the wall of the chamber 22. The enlarged section 19 is formed to provide a first passageway 27 which opens into the chamber 22 between the piston 24 and the sealing member 26, while the wall of the section 19 is formed to provide a second passageway 28 which opens into chamber 22 between the sealing member 25 and the piston 24. Connected to the upper end of the telescoping member 23 is a wellhead 29 having passageways 3t) and 31 for passage of flexible conduits 32 and 33 therethrough. The wellhead 29 has a flange 34 thereon which connects to a Christmas tree 35 which is, in turn, connected by a flexible conduit 36 to a flow line 37. The flexible conduit 35 is of sufi'ici-ent flexibility and length to allow the wellhead 29 and Christmas tree 35 to be raised to water surface or to a selected point above Water bottom. Thus, conduit 36 may be a flexible tubular member having a length sufficient to reach from water bottom 12 to water surface 11 without corresponding movement of fiow line 37 or while maintaining flow line 37 in place without substantial disturbance of same.

The flexible conduits 32 and 33 extend to the water surface 11 and are connected to a buoyant member or buoy 38. Lines 39 and may extend to the shore, to a floating vessel, or to a fixed platform where a source of fluid pressure, either pneumatic or hydraulic, is located. The pressure source is suflicient to raise and lower the wellhead 29, Christmas tree 35 and the telescoping member 23 and attendant movable structure. The conduits 32 and 33 are connected, in turn, to means 38a and 38]) which may be a suitable manifold, which, in turn, are connected by lines 39 and 40 to a source of fluid under pressure which may be gaseous or other fluid. Conduits 39 and 411 are controlled, respectively, by valves 41 and 42. The buoy is anchored by an anchor chain 43 to an anchor 44. v

The pipe string 18 may be suitably perforated with a perforating gun to form perforations 45 in the hydrocarbon productive formation 15.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a well has been drilledfto penetrate the formation 15 and is provided with a casing string 51 which is cemented in place with cement 52. The

section 19 is arranged within the casing 51. The pipe string or tubing 18 carries a suitable packer 53 on its lower end, and the tubing string opens into the casing 51 below the packer 53. The casing string is suitably perforated by lowering a suitable perforator through the tubing 18 and operated to form perforations 54 penetrating the casing 51, cement 52, and the formation for flow of fluid from the casing 51 into the formation 15 or from the formation 15 into the casing 51 and upwardly through the tubing 18. Otherwise, FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1.

Referring now to FIG. 2-A, a plan view is shown of a plurality of completions in a single well enclosed by a surface casing 60. A plurality of sections 19 are arranged within the well.

Referring now to FIG. 2A, it will be seen that a plurality of completions may be made in the well, illustrated by a surface casing 60, with each of the wells extending to a separate hydrocarbon productive zone below. Each of the wells is operated simultaneously.

Referring now to FIG. 2B, a well 150 has been drilled to penetrate the formation 15 and is provided with a casing string 151 which is cemented in place with cement 152. A surface casing 87 is shown which is also cemented in place with cement 152. The tubing 118 is run inside the casing 151, carrying a suitable packer 153 on its lower end and opening into the casing 151 below the packer 153 which seals with the casing 151. The casing 151 is suitably perforated and the well arranged to produce as described with respect to FIG. 2. The embodiment of FIG. 2-B differs from that of FIG. 2 in that in this embodiment a chamber section 119 is formed as part of the casing 151 instead of the tubing 118, and a receptacle .81 is positioned Within the casing 151 such that a joint is provided in the tubing 118 in which the telescoping member 83 seals, the tubing 118 being held in place in the receptacle 81 by weight and a suitable latch, not shown, such as a collet. Tubing 113 may be threadably connected into the receptacle 81. Thus, tubing 118 and member 83 matingly engage. The telescoping member 83 is arranged concentrically with the tubing 118 and forms a continuation thereof for flow of fluid. The sealing members 125 and 126 and the piston 124 are arranged on a movable tubular member 84 which in turn is also arranged in the chamber 122. The member 84 is spaced horizontally from and is concentric with the member 83. Both members 83 and 84 are connected to wellhead 29. In this embodiment the telescoping member 83 and the tubular member 84 may move from one position to another by injection of fluid in the chamber 22 above the piston 124 or in the space 121 to lower and raise the members 33 and 84. Otherwise, FIG. 2-B is similar to FIG. 1.

FIG. 2C is similar to FIG. 2-B except the receptacle 31 in the casing 151 of FIG. 2.B is eliminated and seal 85a is provided at the lower end of an upper tubing section 218, and seal 84a is provided at the top of a lower tubing section 318, which fits inside of an upper tubing section 218. As a result, the upper tubing section 218 is free to move with the telescoping member 123, with the lower tubing. section 318 remaining in place, a pressure-type seal existing in the tubing string between the upper section 218 and the lower section 318. Sections 218 and 318 are thus in sliding engagement. Otherwise, FIG. 2-C is similar to FIG. 2-B and the operation thereof is similar.

FIG. 2-D shows a plurality of completions in a single well designated by a surface casing 150 and plurality of sections 119 and 123 arranged within the well 1513 around the individual tubing strings. This modification is very similar to that shown in FIG. 2-A. Although theseparate units are shown to be provided with separate control means, it will be obvious that all three units could be connected to a common control system for raising and lowering. It will be seen that a plurality of completions may be made in the well, with each of the wells extending to a separate hydrocarbon productive zone below. Each of the assemblies may be raised and lowered separately or simultaneously.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the enlarged section 19 is arranged above water bottom 12 but below the water surface 11. In this instance, the enlarged section 19 is supported, if deemed necessary, on a suitable structure 70 provided with a platform 71 through which the upper end extends and which supports the wellhead 29 and Christmas tree 35. The structure is suitably provided with cross braces 72 and may be provided with horizontal braces (not shown) as may be required. In extreme water depths, the present invention may be arranged above water bottom a suflicient distance such that the wellhead and Christmas tree may be raised at least adjacent water surface without requiring the enlarged section 19 and the telescoping member 23 to be of extreme lengths.

The operation of the present invention will be further described with respect to FIGS. 4 and 5.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the enlarged section 19 is provided with a piston member 24 to which is connected the telescoping member 23 which is arranged in chamber 22. Adjacent the upper end of chamber 22 is a stop member 22a to limit the upper travel of the telescoping member 23. In FIG. 4, the telescoping member 23 is in its first or lower position with the wellhead 29 resting on flange 21. When it is desired to raise the wellhead 29 and Christmas tree 35 to water surface or to a second position, fluid pressure is introduced through flexible conduit 32 and through passageway 27 into the space 50 between the piston 24 and the sealing member 26. This causes the telescoping member 23 to be raised to the position shown in FIG. 5 which is the second or extended position. The stop 22a limits upper travel. When it is desired to return the Christmas tree 35 and the wellhead 29 to a lower or second position, fluid is introduced through conduit 33 into the space between the sealing member 25 and the piston 24 which causes the telescoping member 23 to resume its first or another position as shown in FIG. 4.

It will be seen that the present invention is quite advantageous and useful in that personnel such as divers are no longer required to penetrate excessive water depths to service wellhead and Christmas tree equipment where it is arranged on water bottom. This is quite important and useful because with present day technology the wellhead equipment may be at depths of 200 feet or more. Especially where the depth of the water is below 200 feet and as much as 1000 feet or more, it would be impractical and dangerous to send divers down for such servicing operations. "T he nature and objects of the present invention, having been completely described and illustrated and the best mode and embodiment contemplated set forth, what I wish to claim as new and useful and secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for use on a submerged well having a pipe string for fiow of fluid which comprises means forming a chamber on the upper end of said well, a movable member arranged in said chamber for movement from a first to a second position and vice versa, the upper end of said pipe string being arranged within said movable memher for movement with said movable member and for matingly engaging with the major length of said pipe string, a piston carried by said movable member, a first sealing member arranged above said piston for sealing between said movable member and the upper end of said chamber, a second sealing member arranged below said piston for sealing between said movable member and the wall of said chamber, and means for injecting fluid between said first sealing member and said piston and between said second sealing memberand piston for movement of said movable member. I

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which the upper end of said pipe string is arranged with said movable member for movement with said movable member and for sliding engagement with the major length of said pipe string.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which a horizontal flow line on water bottom is flexibly connected to said wellhead for movement of said wellhead Without substantial corresponding movement of said horizontal flow line.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which a well head and Christmas tree are attached to said movable member.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 in which said Wellhead and Christmas tree are supported below the water surface and above water bottom by submerged means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Towsend 16677 X Creighton 166-73 En Dean et al 166--73 Rhodes et a1 1757 X Haeber 166-.5

Kofahl 166-.5

Le Rouax 16673 X Lacy 166--.5

CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Primary Examiner.

R. E. FAVREAU, Assistant Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR USE ON A SUBMERGED WELL HAVING A PIPE STRING FOR FLOW OF FLUID WHICH COMPRISES MEANS FORMING A CHAMBER ON THE UPPER END OF SAID WELL, A MOVABLE MEMBER ARRANGED IN SAID CHAMBER FOR MOVEMENT FROM A FIRST TO A SECOND POSITION AND VICE VERSA, THE UPPER END OF SAID PIPE STRING BEING ARRANGED WITHIN SAID MOVABLE MEMBER FOR MOVEMENT WITH SAID MOVABLE MEMBER AND FOR MATINGLY ENGAGING WITH THE MAJOR LENGTH OF SAID PIPE STRING, A PISTON CARRIED BY SAID MOVABLE MEMBER, A FIRST SEALING MEMBER ARRANGED ABOVE SAID PISTON FOR SEALING BETWEEN SAID MOVABLE MEMBER AND THE UPPER END OF SAID CHAMBER, A SECOND SEALING MEMBER ARRANGED BELOW SAID PISTON FOR SEALING BETWEEN SAID MOVABLE MEMBER AND THE WALL OF SAID CHAMBER, AND MEANS FOR INJECTING FLUID BETWEEN SAID FIRST SEALING MEMBER AND SAID PISTON AND BETWEEN SAID SECOND SEALING MEMBER AND PISTON FOR MOVEMENT OF SAID MOVABLE MEMBER. 